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Frame from Computer Science - A Guide for the Perplexed • Joe Armstrong • GOTO 2018 Plays via YouTube's privacy-enhanced embed

Computer Science - A Guide for the Perplexed • Joe Armstrong • GOTO 2018

17 videos recommended on HN
YouTube
3 HN users recommended this talk2 months2019–2021 score 3
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN calls it a superb, funny and engaging talk, and links it often after Armstrong's death as one of his best.

Joe Armstrong's GOTO 2018 talk contrasts the problems computer scientists study with the problems users have. He revisits forgotten great ideas such as tuple spaces, flow-based programming, Xanadu and Unix pipes, with anecdotes.

“One of my favorite talks by Joe Armstrong” (HN, 2021)

2 strong recommendations · 1 recommendations · 1 citations · Talks · intermediate

4 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@djhworld Apr 2019 Strongly recommends
on HN thread Joe Armstrong has died
This is devastating, RIP. I watched this talk a few months ago [this video] called "Computer Science - A Guide for the Perplexed" It was superb, I think it's unfortunate that he had to rush through it because of time constraints, his anecdotes and delivery were really engaging and funny.
Engaging, funny talk with great anecdotes on computer science
@dpeck Apr 2019 Recommends
on HN thread Joe Armstrong has died
That is so sad, he was in his late 60s and it seemed like he had a lot of life left in him, talking about how software can get better and having a great (and sometimes snarky) outlook on the profession. Highly recommend his thesis (2003) and a few of his great interviews/presentations for anyone who isn’t familiar with Joe, it captures a lot of what he thought about and pushed for in his professional life. [link] [link] [link] [this video] I hope his family and friends can find some comfort in how much he was appreciated and admired in the development community.
Armstrong's views on software and the profession

Citations, criticism and jokes

Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.

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